Dyana Williams, The Ambassador of African American Music
Radio Personality, 107.9 WRNB, Philadelphia
RNB.com

June 7, 1979, I had the pleasure of attending the first Black Music Month celebration on the lawn of the White House, hosted by President Jimmy Carter. It was a lovely picnic gathering with an illustrious audience of music industry professionals, including Chuck Berry, Andre Crouch and other prominent artists. It was a meaningful and magical event, as the artists showcased the expression of a people who used music to articulate the pain of slavery, their desire for freedom, resistance to racism, the celebration of God, love and life in every form.

Stellar record mogul Kenny Gamble and broadcaster Ed Wright conceived the concept for Black Music Month in 1978. After petitioning President Carter, a year later, those in attendance at the White House were excited about the prospects of garnering greater recognition for the acc omplishments of those who established the foundation for Black music in all genre, as well as generations to come. Some 33 years after the creation of Black Music Month, is it still relevant? How and why should we celebrate it?

As a music advocate who founded the non-profit International Association of African-American Music Foundation, I've been on a mission to share with massive numbers of people the splendor of this amazing creative force we call Black music. One day I wrote President Bill Clinton asking him to host a Black Music Month event during June. The White House informed me that while President Carter declared June Black Music Month, he did not sign a presidential proclamation. The White House suggested that I lobby Congress to get legislation recognizing June as Black music month. I initiated a massive letter campaign, wrote an editorial in Billboard, put on my most comfortable shoes and visited Senators and Congress people on Capitol Hill for several years. Additionally, I used the IAAAM Foundation and my platforms on the radio, television, to encourage support of this endeavor. It was Congressman Chaka Fattah of Philadelphia who became my primary champion in introducing the African American Music Bill to the House of Representatives. I contributed to the draft language and ultimately we were victorious in securing the passage of House Resolution 509. It remains one of my proudest moments!

Black music matters because it enriches our cultural landscape, as well as elevates our intellects, spirits and overall quality of living. From the Fisk University Jubilee singers who toured in 1871 to the great Mahalia Jackson, (the first gospel artist to sell a million records in 1940) to newcomer Frank Ocean, we have lots of reasons to celebrate the diversity of Black music in all its manifestations. Think about the role that Black music plays in your daily life, from the moment you wake up, until you go to sleep.

At one point Black owned companies such as Motown, Vee Jay, Stax, and Philadelphia International Records dominated radio, retail, touring and more. Sadly, just a handful of Black folks are still influential players in the music game. However, Black music is still a moneymaker to the tune of billions of dollars.

We need to be more proactive than ever, to protect and propel America's indigenous music, because it represents a unique legacy, it is valuable to our present, as well as future cultural and economic enrichment.

How can we support Black music?

Buy, support, donate, promote.
* Buy Black music, whether it’s from a local retailer or digital downloads.
* Don’t buy bootleg music.
* Purchase tickets to club and concert performances when an artist tours.
* Support artist's merchandise and other projects, such as books, films, fashion lines, etc.
* Support independent artists who produce their own CDs by purchasing their products.
* Subscribe to publications that focus on Black music. Read the Frequency!
* Become loyal listeners to Black radio stations and support their advertisers.
* Similarly, support the advertisers that promote Black music in their commercials and broadcasts that they sponsor.
* Visit and support Internet sites and others that feature Black music.
* Use social media to promote established and upcoming Black artists that you think folks should know about. Post their videos, Tweet information about them; become part of the grassroots word of mouth to help blow up a project.
* Support elected officials who advocate for Black music, such as Congressman Chaka Fattah, who worked with me to pass the African American Music Bill in Congress.
* Hire African American music industry professionals, such as attorneys, accountants, managers, promoters, record company executives, publicists, journalists, stylists, make-up artists and other allied individuals who work in the business.
* Educate young people about the legacy of Black artists. Volunteer to speak at schools and recreation and community centers. Share information about Black performers.
* Embrace educators and educational institutions that have classes that focus on Black music.
* Support Black music organizations, such as the Rhythm & Blues Foundation that offer financial assistance to performers who face hardships. Also, support your local and national cultural institutions, such as museums that promote Black music via obtaining a membership or make a donation.

This by no means is a comprehensive list, so think of other ways that you prefer to show love to Black music, not just during June, but also throughout the year.